Apr 22, 2016 | By Benedict
Airbus APWorks begins testing its MetalFAB1 metal 3D printing system from Additive Industries, GE Power opens a new Advanced Manufacturing Works in South Carolina, and Canadian 3D printing service Agile Manufacturing acquires a massive SLA 3D printer.
Additive Industries' MetalFAB1 metal 3D printing system
Today was a busy today to end a busy week in the 3D printing universe, with some “big” 3D printing stories from around the world and some particularly exciting news for the aerospace industry. Earlier today, Airbus APWorks put pedal to the metal on its MetalFAB1 3D printing system, supplied by Eindhoven, Netherlands-based Additive Industries, in a deal that marked Additive Industries’ first shipment of the modular metal 3D printing system. “Today we are taking an important leap forward in industrializing metal additive manufacturing technology,” said Joachim Zettler, Managing Director of APWorks. “This will substantially improve part reproducibility and reduce the total cost of 3D printed parts.” APWorks will start testing the integrated system and corresponding Additive World software platform for series production of industrial parts for its customers in robotics, mechanical engineering, automotive, medical technology and aerospace.
With Airbus continuing its assault on the world of 3D printing, there was further good news for those who would like to someday fly in a 3D printed plane. Yesterday afternoon, Altair, RUAG, and Morf3D announced a non-exclusive partnership which will see the trio collaborating on their additive manufacturing research for Aerospace applications. Target areas include space, propulsion, aircraft interior, and airframe applications. Altair will take the lead on software, with Morf3D focused on hardware, and RUAG handling design, analysis, documentation, testing and certification. The team will use the AM facility Morf3D's Innovation Center which includes various DMLS systems and the test facilities at Ruag. The partnership aims to offer a start-to-finish service primarily to the Aerospace industry for AM including space, propulsion, aircraft interior, and airframe applications.
Elsewhere, GE continued its global additive manufacturing initiative with the opening of its new state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Works in Greenville, South Carolina. GE officials commented that the facility will shorten time between research and development, reduce costs, and increase jobs. The premises will house a mix of 3D printers, direct metal laser machines, and other equipment. “GE’s innovation will power the world,” said Steve Bolze, GE Power & Water President and CEO.
GE's Advanced Manufacturing Works
What’s that coming over the hill? Is it a monster? No. It’s Agile Manufacturing’s new IPRO 9000XL stereolithography 3D printer from 3D Systems. Agile, the largest 3D printing service bureau in Canada, acquired the 59" x 30" x 22” machine earlier this week, becoming only the second business in North America to acquire the machine for the purpose of offering its 3D printing potential to the public. “With the increasing demand for production parts as well as very large prototypes, the addition of the 9000XL to our fleet of production systems will help Agile offer the largest part 3D Printing solutions and shortest lead-times to our clients”, said Richard Smeenk, President of Agile Manufacturing.
IPRO 9000XL 3D printer
The IPRO 9000XL wasn’t the only colossal 3D printer in the news today. Over in the fertile 3D printing breeding ground of Israel, Massivit 3D has been readying its Massivit 1800 3D printer, capable of producing prints up to 4 x 5 x 6 ft in size. Massivit is preparing to showcase the massive machine at DRUPA, a conference that has traditionally been used to showcase the best of the 2D printing world. “The Massivit 1800 is THE 3D printing solution for print providers, developed by people who have dedicated their careers to delivering market leading large format digital printing equipment,” said Avner Israeli, Massivit CEO.
Massivit 1800 3D printer
3D printing is slowly but surely digging its way into the construction industry, with the first 3D printed excavator set to be unveiled at next year’s Conexpo convention. The machine is said to be the first large-scale use of steel in 3D printing. “We’re thrilled to bring such a significant technological and first-of-its-kind achievement like the 3D printed excavator to the show,” said John Rozum, director of the fluid power section of the fair. “It will be a platform to demonstrate how the latest innovations and applied technologies are changing the future of construction industry.”
Conexpo 2017 poster
With so many 3D printing innovations popping up on a daily basis, it’s easy to see how the legal side of the industry occasionally struggles to keep up. The last few years have seen some high-profile legal battles within the industry—3D Systems v. Formlabs, for example, springs to mind as one of the most exciting heavyweight bouts of recent times. Because the legal aspects of 3D printing are still developing, law firm Hunton & Williams has established a dedicated 3D printing team, which it hopes will attract a number of clients within the industry. “We are very excited about this new team,” said Maya M. Eckstein, head of the firm’s intellectual property practice group and 3D printing team leader. “We are formalizing work we have been doing since the emergence of this transformative manufacturing process, and we are poised to advise on the new legal issues arising in 3D printing in intellectual property, product liability, compliance, regulatory, insurance, tax and other areas.”
And that, folks, just about does it. Head back to 3Ders soon for more 3D printing news and topical top 10s!
Posted in 3D Printing Application
Maybe you also like:
- Materialise partners with Tissue Regeneration Systems to 3D print life-saving tracheal splints
- Belgian Bruno Vereecke turns 3D printed lamps into hearing aids with Absorblight
- Explore swamps with this cool propeller-powered RC 3D printed swamp boat
- 3D printing skin remains a complicated process, Arnold Bos at Lux Research calls for caution
- Pollen gets super-sized: Seeing and feeling unseeable is becoming a reality thanks to 3D printing
- Cheap, efficient 3D printed micro turbines could bring energy to remote locations
- The Green Engineers develops 'Multistruder' 3D printing tool for homemade filament production
- TEPCO sends 3D printed RC robot to investigate damage in Fukushima Unit 3 Reactor
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
